pic a day - always welcome

There is something very welcoming about a wreath on a door. It just says "Hey...welcome...come on in!" It's not so much about being pretty, although that is a common and good reason for a wreath, and I certainly wouldn't advocate putting up an ugly wreath. It's just a universal sign to me that indicates HERE is where I want you to be...HERE, right at my front door walking in. I love love love love having people in my home. To me, my home is the most personal thing I can offer to people. It is full of pictures of those I hold near and dear. There are family heirlooms. I am a serious collector of stuff and all my stuff has memories connected. My Raggety Ann doll from when I was 3 sits on a shelf along with some really cool cigar boxes I scoped out in the Old City of Knoxville when I lived there. There are chotchkys from my trip to Ireland along side pottery pieces from a silent auction. At Christmas, I display a thousand and one (OK, maybe more like 30) nativity scenes that I've collected over the years. I always pick one that I decide to leave out all year. There's ribbon from my grandpa's funeral, an old camera and film slides I picked up at an antique store, and books galore. My photography is displayed along with other pieces of famly artwork. And that's all just in my living room. My home is a shrine to the life and the love and the joy I've experienced. You may not realize all that is present when you walk through my front door, but I do and when you leave, you've become a part of all that is me. So when you see the wreath on my door, don't hesitate to knock. It may be dusty and little messy, much like me :), but you are always always always welcome in my home.